- Joined
- Dec 3, 2011
- Location
- Laurinburg NC
"These are records that cannot be gainsaid, and they will endure. I refer to them with pride; not for myself, but for my regiment, and especially for and on behalf of the troops from North Carolina, whose glorious deeds at Gettysburg have been so much ignored.
The noble soldierly bearing of the many regiments of North Carolina troops that took part in that three days' fight - on Seminary Ridge and Rock Creek on the first day, and with General Johnson on Culp's Hill on the evening of the second and morning of the third day, and in the charge on Cemetery Ridge on the third day, have not been given due prominence in the accounts of the battle of Gettysburg. But here, on Cemetery Hill, those who felt the prowess of her troops have contributed to their fame by inscribing their deeds on imperishable tablets, which they have erected on the highest ground and in the most conspicuous position on this most noted battlefield of the war - a battlefield which, by reason of the vast sums of money expended on it, is destined to be made one of the most noted battlefields in the world.
The tourist or traveler visiting this field in days to come, as he goes from point to point with a well-informed guide, will hear him, in describing the operations of the two armies on the first day, on the second day and on the third day, make frequent mention of the North Carolina troops.
From the point known as 'The Bloody Angle' he will describe Pickett's charge, so called because General Pickett was in command of the assaulting columns, a charge very unjustly spoken of as 'The charge of Pickett and his Virginians,' to the prejudice of troops from other States that participated in it, among whom were several regiments of North Carolina troops, who acted well their part, and will be duly mentioned in all true accounts of the fight.
When they come to stand on Cemetery Hill, to which every visitor will go, for from it nearly all the field can be pointed out except Lee's right on the Emmitsburg road, and Meade's left on Round top, the guide will point westward toward Cashtown and the Chambersburg pike, where the fighting began. NORTH CAROLINA WAS THERE.
He will then point out Seminary Ridge, beyond which the Federal General Reynolds was killed; the railroad cut; and the rock wall from which the Federals were driven after a most determined stand. NORTH CAROLINA WAS THERE. He will turn towards the field on the north of the town, where Ewell's Corps came in and where the Federal Bartow was killed; and still further to the east, where Early's Division fought along Rock Creek and near the brickyard, and through the town. NORTH CAROLINA WAS ALL ALONG THERE. Turning them directly east, he will call attention to the monuments, two or three miles off, which mark the place of the cavalry fighting. NORTH CAROLINA WAS THERE TOO. Then he will show Culp's Hill, where General Johnson and his men did such noble work and came so near being successful in their efforts to turn Meade's right flank. NORTH CAROLINA WAS THERE.
And to conclude his description from this point of view, the guide will then tell how Hay's Louisiana Brigade and Hoke's North Carolina Brigade (then commanded by Colonel I.E. Avery), after laying under fire all day, some of which was a terrible cannonade, emerged in line of battle from the little valley that runs through Culp's field, and charged up the hill through the shot and shell and grape and canister and ball that was poured upon them by well posted Federals. He will point to where Avery fell, and tell how they still came on and on, driving back the infantry and then encountering the gunners, who resisted even to a hand-to-hand struggle, until finally the guns were silenced and spiked; and he will then ask that the records of those facts may be read in the inscriptions on the costly, durable monuments erected there by the Federal regiments and batteries that were in the fight. NORTH CAROLINA WAS THERE.
The Confederate soldier - the North Carolina Confederate soldier - may glory in the records of Gettysburg." [For NORTH CAROLINA WAS THERE!]"
Captain Neill W. Ray - 6th North Carolina
Bringing the